Separator



May 6, 1930. A. P. J. VOIGT SEPARATOR Filed July 25, 1927 A/berf 2.1 va/f, mm

5 ing the-kernels from the shells,

10 invention to employ a Patented May 6, 1930 ALBERT P. J. VOIG-HT, OFGALVESTON, TEXAS SEPARATOR My invention relates to a separator forseparatlng the kernels from the shells of cracked nuts.

' In cracking nuts-mechanically and separatit is ofttimes desirable toemploy a floatation process to separate the kernels from the shellsdue/to the difference in specific gravity between the kernels and theshucks. It is an object of my modification of the floatation processwhereby a current of water artificially produced will serve to assist inseparating the shucks from the kernels.

It is further desired to form a simplified apparatus for carrying waterto separate the shells from the kernels and discharging them into aproper receptacle.

is a central longitudinal section through 'a separator embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detailof the conveyer flights employed incarrying away the kernels of the nuts; and

Fig. 3 is a detail of the conveyer flights employed in carrying away theshucks of the nuts.

It is contemplatedthat the nuts will be fed through a chute 1 to acracker 2. This cracker may cracker and the details of the same are notshown; as being an immaterial part of this Invention. The nuts arecracked and fed through a downwardly tapering chute 3 to a tank 4. Saidtank is of suflicient depth to ac commodate my conveyers for carryingoff the kernels and the shells of the nuts. Around the upper edge of thetank is a frame 5 rectangular in shape and preferably made of angle ironand connected with a frame work, indicated at 6, upon which theoperating mechanism is mounted.

- There is an outlet from the tank at- ,7, lead mg toa rotary pump 8,which acts to drive the water from the tank through'a pipe 7 extendingacross the upper side of the tank and terminating in a pipe 9transversely of the tank at one end, said pipe 9 having a series ofnozzles 10 directed downwardly and inwardly so as to project a stream ofwater 11 along the surface of the water level, indicated' at 12 in thetank.

be any desirable type of commercial- Application filed July 25, 1927.Serial No. 208,129

In the lower end of the tank, below the dis charge chute 3, veyer ismade is a conveyer 13. Said conup of two side sprocket chains 14connected by flights 15 which may be of channel iron,

as indicated in ig. .3, there being thus provided a regulanseriesofoutwardly projecting blades or flights, which'are adapted to engage theshells indicated at 16,

to convey them from the tank. .The conveyer thus formed is carried bysprockets 17 adjacent the bottom sprocket wheels above the level about.two pairs arranged adjacent the bottom of the tank and by upper at theend of the tank and of the water. The belt runs of idle sprockets 19 and20 of-the tank and'acting to guide the belt in its passage between thetwo sprockets 17 and Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1

18, as will be understood from the drawing.

The kernels from the nuts are adapted to be carried from Sa1d conveyeris the tank by a conveyer 20. made up of sprocket chains 21 at each'sideand said sprocket chains are connected by. flights 22, the constructionof which-is best shown in Fig. 2. It is of angular formation and is madeup of foraminous material, allowing the free passage of liquidtherethrough.

This conveyer thus provided operates over lower sprocket wheels 23 andupper sprocket wheels 24 above the tank.

e conveyers tank a partition 25 of pump. a y In the operat and kernelsare are separated from the and the main portion of the pump inlet bywoven wire or other foraminatedmaterial which prevents the shells or ionof the device the shells discharged into the water below the dischargechute 3, thekernels being lighter than the j acent the water shucks willtend to float adsu'rface and the shucks being heavier, will tend to sinkdownwardly upon the conveyer 13 will be to cause The actionof the pump acurrent of water directed toward the conveyer-20 forthe kernels, andthese will be carried along adjacent the sur-- face of th veyer byupwardly and di e water into contact with the conmeans of which theywill be carried schargedinto an outlet chute 27 leading to any containerfor the kernels.

The shucks whic h are heavier will be affected somewhat by the currentof water from the I jets 11 but will sink to the conveyor 13 and will becarried upwardly and discharged into an outlet chute 28 leading to somecontainer for the shells. Y

The advantages of this construction lie in its simplicity and in thefact that no complicated apparatus is necessary for the separation ofthe shells from the kernels. The jet 10 of water which carries thekernels laterally against the conveyer 20 is eflicient in separating thekernels from the shells in such manner that when the kernels aredischarged from the separator they will be entirely free of any 1 shellsor other foreign matter. The further advantages of the device will beobvious to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new is: A floatation separator comprising in com- I 20bination a tank, a plurality of endless conveyor belts disposedthereinand adapted to discharge at opposite ends of said tank, one of saidbelts being positioned along the bottom and one side of said tank,aliquid in 35 said tank, means above said tank and arranged to dischargematerial to be separated into said liquid, means to circulate the liquidincluding an intake at the bottom of said tank and discharge nozzlesadjacent the top so and adapted to cause circulation longitudinally ofthe tank, another of said belts arranged to receive the kernels carriedby said liquid and elevate them therefrom, and a 1 screen protectingsaid circulating means. 35 In testimony'whereof I hereunto aflix mysignature this 15th day of July, A. D. 1927. ALBERT P. J. VOIGT.

